Asymmetric tandem organic photovoltaic cells with hybrid planar-mixed molecular heterojunctions

We demonstrate high-efficiency organic photovoltaic cells by stacking two hybrid planar-mixed molecular heterojunction cells in series. Absorption of incident light is maximized by locating the subcell tuned to absorb long-wavelength light nearest to the transparent anode, and tuning the second subcell closest to the reflecting metal cathode to preferentially absorb short-wavelength solar energy. Using the donor, copper phthalocyanine, and the acceptor, C-60, we achieve a maximum power conversion efficiency of eta(P)=(5.7+/-0.3)% under 1 sun simulated AM1.5G solar illumination. An open-circuit voltage of V(OC)less than or equal to1.2 V is obtained, doubling that of a single cell. Analytical models suggest that power conversion efficiencies exceeding 6.5% can be obtained by this architecture. (C) 2004 American Institute of Physics.